Unless you are working up loads for a really big caliber or have a problem with recoil I wouldn't get one. I've seen them crack stocks a few guns because there is no place for the recoil to go. People over load the sled trying to remove all recoil and something has to give. A couple of sand bags made from old denim pants work great. Of course this is from the guy that has at least a half dozen different types of mechanical rests.

If your into seriously investing in a good, rock solid rest, check out Hyskores. They are great, and even have some models with remote trigger release. Or you could get a cabela'scatalog and surf through it. They have some good buys as low as $60-$100 for an excellent rest system.

I use my backpack-even at the range. When I get hungry, I reach inside for a snack. I like practicing with what I use in the field. When sighting in though, I mount my Harris shorty bipods and use a small sand bag under the rifles' butt.

I use sandbags and a sled. I prefer the sled for sighting in scopes and if you don't overload it, it's a great platform for this application. I usually put 50-90lbs of lead on it (depending on caliber of rifle) and my big bore gun still moves it. It's also padded in the rear so i am not concerned about it breaking my stock. The sled is also great for comparing different ammo. Many guys w/ different types of bags often ask to borrow my sled (when I'm not using it) so they have a place. Once i have my ammo & scope dialed in...I switch. For regular practice I use my shooting stix, Harris bipod or offhand.

I use a Caldwell JR front rest and a sandbag my lovely bride sewed out of some denim pant leg for a rear rest. I've also used a number of homemade sand bags before for the front rest, works just fine. I doubt that most of us could shoot any better off of a $200 front rest than a good solid sandbag. They are just handier to adjust for different rifles.I shoot quite a bit at another friends house, he has a nice table built and a homemade front rest he built out of sissor jack. Has a nice leather front rest bag on it. That thing cost him a few dollars to build, weighs about 30lbs, and is the nicest rest to shoot off of I've ever seen.

I myself use my gun case and an old sandbag with nothing at the rear but my shoulder. Works fine for me, and I consitently get 1 inch groups with my favorite guns. I personally have never owned a Hyskore, but my friend had one and I tried it out. I, too, like to be the one actually handling my gun, not the rest.

Here is my tightwad setup ;)Actually, it works very well. A more accomplished woodworker could easily make the rear rest adjustable to more tightly clamp the stock of the rifle, I was thinking something with a slide and a couple of wingnuts would work, or a padded woodworkers vise. I made these out of some scraps I had after building shelves in the gunroom, and they work just fine for my use. I just glued the felt to the wood with some fabric glue my bride uses for sewing projects.1.jpg9.94KB17 downloads2.jpg9.88KB15 downloads

I use the basic Lead Sled of a few years ago and like the option of adding weight to it to reduce recoil if needed. I usually use it as is b/c it does enough recoil reduction with its own weight. I got mine at Turners for $89 several yrs ago and unless you're really recoil sensitive...several other options including those pictures above would probably be a better option. SnS